New-York tribune., 1887-12-13
BAPTIST MINISTERS on ART.
THEY LISTEN To ANTHONY CoMsTocKs ESSAY On
THE sUpJEcT AND APPROVE HIS WORK.

THEY listen To ANTHONY COMSrOCKs TsSAf oN
THE sUnJEcT AND APPROVE HIS WORK.
After the routine work o: the Baptist Minister'S
Conference had bccn finished yesterday ih' Moderator
announced that Authony Comstock would address INC
conference on Art and Morals and directed the
secretary, the Rev Ir. fletcher to inform iir COM
stock vho was waiting Ia an adjoining room
as Mr. Comstock to bring in any pcturcs'' y asked
tho secretary.
No Instructions were given this point and Mr.
Comstock was called He said that thcrc v az
necessity for the presentation Of this subject now
owing TO the gross msrcprc ;ntaons of tlo rress IN
,c,,rd 70 recent actions ~ him as agent ior tho
society for the Prevention Of CrImc. lie SAID that
the whole matter was question OF law Art does not
stand fist; lt IS no. ais which arc Glst recognized
~ tbc law and ert IS lndctabe when fl gives offence
TO morals AMI tends to corrupt them MI. Comst"cK
read a statement Of the tfiae on record ~ NarlonS
times In regard 10 the publication or sso OF 'h"r"
works. II there s any tendency IN them to corrupt
pnrc thorclt tho courts be- said, had never failed 10
declare books paintings immoral lie u'ned ih''
photographs could be re sardcd wo.s of art They
were simply copies of such works and the question
was now whether thr importation OF French pho'"
graphs was IN the interest of families nmt homes
lie dd not charge the engaged In tlesao OF such
tlctures with tho intention Of corrnP,i s~r'1.y. ;.y
dra,ys a d,tinr, Ins Mr. Cons.ock said that he AZ
not opposed = The nude In art It was "t'l 'n ~ W.
Fr4-
was no conflict between the law AL az lhtil that
art bncamo Impure Tho wori. of the society h"i re-.
suited he said, in cpndcmuing furiN-hLe toh- vi
1scene matter: 30 cases had been brought aga h'i
dealers IN such matter and during ire Wfseht yea,
rlne,v four ogt If ninety six cases h2d Doeh ucCiucu
In fty or of the society. . 49, Ana,
some Of tLl, matter seized by Ir COm,toch whch cu
Mr. COLGATE 20 take up The work Nj. t"insl",,h
cNo,t. wcrc sustained and thoroughly nd ''eu Oy nun
md by the society. . =, .,,,- q,
Tho Rev Dr Morse said that lie Thoroughly IN,
doi-ed SIR Com.tnck aud his work ara H. pT,Srh'i
a resolution 10 this effect The Rev W. !. aN,,n,r
0rorcd an amendment more explicitly approving UT
." :, C1,nsfocl.9 said he " ia not opposed 10 the
M 10 IN art Hu n Z, time We should pI",r-t aean',
In, ,norslity IN art IN the M"uopolit' Museum ~
Ar, In hs city therc picture Of ~ts fnnah ana ~"
Ildrt,' which j., a. vile AID ufl ~ lnYihIhS htNc
eyer scen: but ~ Is not ruic picture either nope
a. ill como down. ,. or,
eec,,eI T., him almost iuNlurile uuf hH tho gh' IL
hotter 20 pos mono any frdprcment 80 arn'h'r u'"
inc u was easy. io added. "in trdorse sn'tmhR -
Inspector Lyrucs tho police Pres dent 'ieVeian' or 'h'
Ilravrniv hciug~ d., -, 4,
Mr. Smou,-Yrs. AMI n IS VOL - do so y 'hcr" -
, ouesifon ~ morals involved lirp'anse1
Dr Rhoad"s thouglt lotier'r, sh'p'd J' c"iuehln''
,c VOL a. bad rrfuf.s ard ~" HrV Dr.. lrfNr' SIS
,,incd me resolution. Tho Rcr. Hicharl NnHrN Al
mat n was not ncco-safv 20 -,i tho opn ms OF a NJ,
u Li. subject flc 'lnfor'rr' rnul1 lIotr Tor INii
b. VI Corrtiock has stood lll" dam ne m ~
added vhr, an outlurst of laughter gre'trl INC eA
rs. material dam. ve end moral tan 700.
ri. amendment of Mr. TaS'or vas lost b aft"r some
,,,h dcn.sion pr Mo-, e's resolutions udor''ng TIC
work - Nr Co'usfock and Tho socciy "eio a'oP'o"
q lfl.t